Coal breaker



June 15, R, HAMM ET A 2,084,139

GOAL BREAKER Filed Nov. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l VWQTVAYQ 7 INVENTORS,

J17? Z? /a/77/77. 6 6/ 1? 336/7/93/71 ATTORNEYS June 15, 1937.

J. HAMM ET AL COAL BREAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 INVENTORS, J07? Z. Z 5/77/77, G/ZWIZZBe/I/E'JW- ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 15, 1937 PATENT OFFICE COAL BREAKER John R. Hamm, Centerville, Iowa, and Glenn E. Benham, Kansas City, Kans.

Application November 16, 1934, Serial No. 753,264

2 Claims.

This invention relates to coal handling equipment of the character usually employed directly at the mine, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a novel breaker for coal which is ruggedly and uniquely constructed so as to permit its operation upon exceptionally large lumps of coal to the end that they will be quickly and thoroughly broken up into pieces approximating predetermined sizes.

One of the important aims of the instant invention is to provide a coal breaker having as an important feature thereof, means establishing a relation between the movement of the coal con- I veyor and the series of teeth which actually engage the coal for the purpose of breaking it into smaller pieces.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a coal breaker of the aforementioned character, of a rocker beam which carries the breaker teeth that is hingedly mounted in a novel fashion so as to perform a shearing action which will not only permit the machine to positively break up exceptionally large lumps of coal, but will perform such work by the employment of substantially lighter equipment and driving means than would be possible if such shearing action were not employed as a feature of the machine.

Specific structural details of the coal breaker contemplated by this invention constitute minor 5, objects thereof and these will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coal breaker constructed to embody this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, end elevationof the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, plan View of the conveyor with the teeth in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, fragmentary 6 view showing one of the breaker teeth and the manner of affixing the same to the rocker beam.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the tooth. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, detailed view showing the manner of interconnecting the rocker beam and switch, and,

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating the two circuits and related parts of the breaker.

In practice it is necessary to move the coal being acted upon to and from the zone of breaking, and the novel means for so doing and for adequately supporting the coal as pressure is applied thereto is clearly shown in Fig. 2. A table Ill, supported upon beams I2, which are in turn rigidly joined to the framework M of the machine, has the endless conveyor I6 passing thereover and in contact therewith for the purpose of moving coal from delivery chute I8 to a position upon table II] and, subsequently, from said position' out of hopper 20 to any suitable take-off means for the finished product. 5

Endless conveyor 16 is carried upon two sets of opposed rollers 22 and each of said sets respectively is mounted upon a shaft 24, one of which is secured to motor shaft 26 as at 28. Motor 30, therefore, drives conveyor l6 and this driving action is intermittent as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The upper portion of frame l4 supports rocker beams 32, which in turn carry a plate 34 upon which is mounted a plurality of breaker teeth 36 5 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. Each tooth is formed to present a conical body extending from shoulder 38 to point 49. A portion of this body adjacent point 40 is cast, ground, or otherwise formed to present a polygonal portion having a number of fiat adjoining faces 42. Such construction of the teeth of this coal breaker insures lines of fracture which will immediately travel outwardly from the point of contact of the teeth and precludes the teeth merely sinking into the 25 chunk of coal without positively breaking the same into smaller chunks.

Plate 34 is provided with a boss 44 for each tooth 36 and has a tapered opening 46 therethrough that is in communication with hole 48 formed through plate 34 which receives the neck 50 of the tooth. Neck 50 is tapered along its major portion between shoulder 38 and the upper screw-threaded portion 52 of the neck to correspond to the angle of inclination of opening 46 formed through boss 44. The lower face of boss 44 has a radial notch formed therein for the reception of the radial ridge 54 that is cast on shoulder 38. These notch and ridge members interengage to preclude rotation of tooth 36 about its axis; A nut 56 in screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion 52 of tooth 36 draws the parts together and rigidly holds the tooth in place. Shoulder 38 lies directly against the lower annular face of boss 44 and the thrust action which is imparted to plate 34 is transmitted directly to the tooth in a manner which will be positive and efficient.

A large number of teeth 36 is employed and the same are arranged in rows as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and over table l0 so that the coal being broken might be engaged between teeth and table 36 and I0 respectively. All of the teeth are mounted upon plate 34 so that their points 40 are disposed in a fiat plane. The rocker beams 32 extend laterally to one side of table and conveyor for mounting directly to frame l4 through the medium of a hinge 58 which allows the oscillating movement on the part of beams'32 which is so essential in carrying out this invention. The other end of beams 32 is moved through an arcuate path back and forth so as to oscillate teeth 36 toward and from table In and the supported coal. This movement will obviously cause the teeth 36 closest to hinge 58 to approach table In before the teeth that are progressively farther away from the closest teeth approach it. Thus a shearing or progressive breaking action is caused to take place and through such principle, exceptionally large chunks of coalmight be quickly and easily thoroughly broken.

The means for so moving beams 32 comprises a motor 60 which drives a belt wheel 62 through the medium of belt 64. Wheel 62 is mounted upon a shaft 66 that has a pinion 68 thereon and in mesh with gear 10 which is keyed to shaft 12 that is in parallel relation with shaft 66. A pair of pinions T4 are mounted upon this shaft 12 and each is in mesh with a large driving gear 16 carried by a shorter shaft 18 journalled in a bearing 83 carried by frame Hi. 'There are two of these driving gears 16 and each forrns an eccentric driving member for the two rocker beams 32 by connections therewith in the form of links 82. One end of link 82 is pivotally and eccentrically mounted upon drive gear 16 as at 34, while the other end of link 82 is pivotally joined to the end of rocker beam as at 86. Obviously, as mo tor 60 is operating the train of gears just set down will perform the duty of oscillating rocker beams 32 about hinge 58 as an axis.

It'is desirable to crush the coal as conveyor I6 is dwelling for a period of time and to convey a new supply of coal to be crushed to table Ill as teeth 35 are moving away from the conveyor. To fulfill this end, one of beams 32 is connected to a switch 88 by a rod and crank 90 and 92 respectively which are moved to open and close contact points 94 and 96 of the switch as arm 32 is oscillated. A compression spring 98 may have its tension adjusted by a nut I that is mounted for movement along rod 98 and a nut 102 having an arcuate face forms the abutment for pulling rod 90 in one direction as beam 32 is lowered. A perforated ear 14 receives rod 90' and bears against spring and nut 98 and H12 respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Contact point 96 is an arcuate one and wipes over stationary contact point 94 as beam 32 is drawn upwardly by motor 60 and associated mechanism. When contact points 94 and 96 are together, motor 30 is operated as a result of its electrical circuit being closed and therefore conveyor 16 will be moved to advance coal from delivery chute l8 to table l0 and from table I0 out of hopper 20. g

This motor circuit, with contacts 94 and 96 together, is traced as follows: Wire I06, wire I08, closed contact points 94 and 96, wire H0, motor 3i), and wire H2 to wire H4. As beam 32 is moving down to crush the coal, contact points 94 and 96 are opened and motor 30 is therefore idle. This unique relationship, between the movement of rocker beams 32 and conveyor l6 elements and their structure were described, and while one embodiment of the invention is illustratedand set forth in the specification, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coal breaker of the .character described, a tooth comprising a conical body having a polygonal portion at its apex forming a plurality of flat faces, the edges formedby the meeting of said fiat faces being in aligned, longitudinal continuation of the inclined face of the said conical body.

2. A coal-breaker of the character described comprising a framework; an endless belt conveyor having a horizontally disposed upper stretch carried by the framework; a stationary table underlyingthe said upper stretch to assist the same in supporting the conveyed load of coal; rocker beams having one end hingedly secured to the framework to one side of the endless belt for movement toward and from the upper stretch about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the load; a plurality of teeth mounted on the rocker beams projecting downwardly toward the upper stretch of said endless belt when the beams are in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the upper stretch of the belt, said teeth all being substantially the same length and disposed in a plane spaced above the said upper stretch when the beams are in the horizontal plane whereby upon downward movement of the beams from above the said horizontal position, the teeth closest to the hinged end of the beams will first approach the said belt; an electric motor mounted on the frame; a-train of gears above the free ends of the rocker arms; means transmitting power from the motor to the train of gears; a link connecting one of the gears of the train and the free ends of the beams for moving the beams about the hinge connection andtoward and from the upper stretch of the belt; a circuit connecting the motor to a source of electrical energy; a second motor to drive the belt; a circuit connecting the second motor to a source of power; and a switch mounted on the frame adjacent the beams for periodically opening and closing the circuit of the second motor as the beams are rocked, said switch having connection with the beams whereby to cause the motor to drive the beltwhen the beams are moving from the belt and to cause the motor to remain idle as the first mentioned motor is moving the beams and. teeth toward the belt.

JOHN R. HAMM.

GLENNE. BENHAM. 

